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2-day conflict resolution workshop ends in Wa
Speaker addressing participants
The Director in charge of Capacity Development and Outreach at the National Peace Council, Mrs Janet Sarney-Kuma has assured that the council is working hard to prevent violence before, during and after the 2024 general election.
She, therefore, called on stakeholders to work together to have a peaceful election and a peaceful transition devoid of violence, destruction of property or loss of innocent lives.
Mrs Sarney-Kuma gave the assurance in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of a two-day training programme at Dorimon in the Wa West District for traditional and religious leaders on conflict resolution, negotiation and confidence building for effective conflict management at the community level.
The three-year project sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under its Atlantic Corridor Project is being implemented across three conflict prone regions namely; North-East, Upper East and Upper West regions.
The Director in charge of Capacity Development and Outreach noted that the Peace Council was doing a lot including quarterly meetings with the political parties in Accra which they hope to extend to the regions.
Mr Emmanuel Danyomah, the Executive Secretary of the Upper West Regional Peace Council, urged religious and traditional leaders to understand the dynamics of conflict before initiating action to resolve them.
“Understanding the need, rationale, cultural dynamics of a conflict among others will enable you analyse the conflict properly and take the appropriate actions to resolve it”, he said.
He also pleaded with them to always shelve their emotions and deal with the truth, adding that it was only when they detach their emotions from the conflict that they could act appropriately in resolving the conflict.
Rev. Fr. Dr. Moses Banungwiiri, the Archdeacon of the Anglican Church in Wa and the Chairman of the Upper West Regional Peace Council admonished chiefs and religious leaders to endeavour to speak the truth to help maintain peace in their communities.
Naa Bawa Seidu Seidu, the Chief of Duasi lauded the Peace Council for the programme, saying the knowledge shared would help them in resolving conflicts when they come up.
According to him, many conflicts would not have existed today if they were properly handled by the mediators.
From Rafia Abdul Razak, Wa
Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
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A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
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